Measles Outbreak Infects 3,000 N.Koreans

A measles epidemic broke out across North Korea infecting some 3,000 people and causing four deaths, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Monday. The IFRC in Geneva, Switzerland, said that since the outbreak last November, 3,000 North Koreans have been infected and 1,013 have been treated by local health authorities, Reuters reported. The IRFC said, ¡°The continued presence of the measles is accompanied by a risk of increasing cases and the further spread of the illness to other parts of the country.¡± North Korean public health authorities requested 5 million doses of measles vaccine from international bodies such as IFRC and WHO.